Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil has expressed his approval for the passage of bipartisan legislation aimed at extending the Administrative Fine Program for certain reporting violations by an additional 10 years. The bill, which ensures the smooth operation of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforcement operations, has been hailed by Chairman Steil as a means to provide more transparency for the American people.
"This common-sense election integrity bill equips the FEC to offer greater transparency to the American people," said Chairman Steil. He further emphasized that this legislation not only achieves the immediate goal of efficient campaign finance regulation but also aligns with the broader objectives of the American Confidence in Elections Act. Chairman Steil looks forward to continuing efforts to strengthen Americans' confidence in their elections.
The Administrative Fine Program, which is enforced by the FEC, allows for the swift resolution of infractions related to late-filed or unfiled reports, promoting transparency and accountability. The program, which was set to expire on December 31, 2023, has now been extended for an additional 10 years. This extension ensures that the FEC can promptly assess and enforce fines against campaign committees that fail to file reports on time.
Prior to the implementation of the Administrative Fine Program, an average of 21 percent of campaign finance reports were filed late. However, with the program in place, the number of late-filed reports has decreased to below 10 percent, and the FEC has successfully imposed fines totaling over $9 million.
The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar, Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and Senator Deb Fisher, Ranking Member of the committee. It received unanimous support in the Senate through a voice vote. The Committee on House Administration also reported out an identical measure, H.R. 5734, which was sponsored by Chairman Bryan Steil and Ranking Member Joseph D. Morelle.
The passage of this legislation is a significant step forward in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and maintaining public trust in the campaign finance system. With the extension of the Administrative Fine Program, the FEC will continue to play a crucial role in enforcing regulations and holding campaign committees accountable for their reporting obligations.
Read the full bill here.
###
For additional details, please follow this link: https://cha.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3A202434-336D-4FF2-8206-EA2C80E01BD6
